Playing Clever

In periods where we are on top we are definitely looking to score more"

Kenny Jackett

Kenny Jackett is still calling on Wolves to show more quality in front of goal ahead of tonight’s visit to Carlisle (7.45pm).

Whilst pleased with Wolves’ return of 35 points from the first 14 league games, the Head Coach is still targeting further improvement, particularly in being more clinical when enjoying spells of dominance of possession.

Having started the game impressively and gone a goal up early on against Stevenage on Saturday, Wolves were unable to take advantage of their superiority and after the visitors pressed strongly after the break, were indebted to James Henry’s late finish to ensure a comfortable finale.

“If in your good spells you’re not two, three or four goals ahead, then the opposition can come back at you,” said Jackett.

“Saturday’s game wasn’t dead until 80 or 81 minutes – it was open to both sides – and there have been many hard-fought games.

“They were pressing us and pushing up from the back and we need to at times be cleverer and cuter to play people in.

“In periods where we are on top we are definitely looking to score more.

“We need to be stronger in our good periods and are working in training on being more cohesive.

“I thought some of our build-up play and our switching of the play was very good on Saturday.

“But there just seemed to be this white wall about seven yards out heading the ball away.

“Stevenage defend deep and they’re good at it to be fair but we weren’t clever enough either to run across the first defender – Jon Ashton won eight headers in a row from a near-post position – or do what they do at the top level, which is run it in a little bit and then cut the ball back from the defenders for a midfield player coming on to it.

“They are things we have been working on and things we need to improve because as a team, and particularly since James Henry has come in, we’ve put a lot of crosses into the box.

“The wide men have put good balls in and we get a lot of crosses in and we need to be doing better from those balls in.

“Perhaps it is a question of better understanding and variety to get more goals from there because it’s something that can help us going forward.”

Jackett is not expecting to tinker too much with the side which beat Stevenage, and is still without Matt Doherty and Kevin McDonald with hamstring injuries.

“Matt has been o-k but when you come back from a hamstring you need a good period of training before you play,” said Jackett.

“We don’t want him to break down and he has done three good days training so Saturday looks the best bet.

“It is also compounded by a defence which is playing well and has good options so we don’t need to rush him back.

“Kevin also has a chance for the weekend.

“He was outside yesterday working well, not in full training, but he will be by the end of the week.”